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Part 3: Question Types in Detail

This section breaks down each IELTS Reading question type, explaining what it tests and common traps. It provides step-by-step strategies and worked examples for Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, and other formats. Mini exercises allow learners to apply strategies immediately.

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Chapter 10: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Purpose: Test understanding of details, inference, and overall meaning.

Strategy:

  1. Read the question carefully.

  2. Identify 2–3 keywords from the question.

  3. Scan the passage for those keywords or synonyms.

  4. Compare all answer options before choosing.

  5. Eliminate options that are too extreme, off-topic, or contradicted by the passage, and choose the option that is most related to the sentence in the passage with the same or similar keywords.

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Example Passage:
“Plastic pollution has grown dramatically since the 1950s, with governments introducing measures to reduce waste in recent years.”

Question: According to the passage, how have governments responded to plastic pollution?
A. They have ignored the problem.
B. They have introduced measures to reduce it.
C. They have banned all plastic.

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Answer: B

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Mini Exercise:
Passage: “Solar energy has become more affordable and widely adopted, though initial installation costs remain high.”
Question: What is true about solar energy?
Options: A. It is expensive to use. B. It is increasingly used. C. It is no longer used.
Answer: B

Chapter 11: True/False/Not Given & Yes/No/Not Given

Purpose: Test ability to identify facts, opinions, or unknown information.

Strategy:

  1. Identify keywords in the question.

  2. Scan for the relevant part of the passage.

  3. Compare meaning, not exact words.

  4. True / Yes = agrees with passage; False / No = contradicts; Not Given = cannot be confirmed.

Example Passage:
“Coffee originated in Ethiopia, and it reached Europe centuries later.”

Question: Coffee was originally discovered in Europe.

  • Answer: False

Mini Exercise:
Passage: “Vaccination has prevented millions of deaths worldwide.”
Question: Vaccination has saved no lives.

  • Answer: False

Chapter 12: Matching Headings

Purpose: Match paragraph or section ideas to headings.

Strategy:

  1. Skim each paragraph to identify the main idea.

  2. Read all headings.

  3. Look for paraphrased meanings rather than exact words.

Example:
Paragraph: “Venice attracts millions of tourists each year, creating both economic benefits and environmental concerns.”
Heading Options:
A. Tourism in Venice
B. History of Venice
C. Venice’s Architecture

  • Answer: A

Mini Exercise:
Paragraph: “Online learning has expanded rapidly, especially during global lockdowns, offering both opportunities and challenges.”
Heading Options:
A. Traditional Classroom Teaching
B. Growth of Online Learning
C. Education Policy Reforms

  • Answer: B

Chapter 13: Matching Features / Information

Purpose: Connect details to people, places, or events.

Strategy:

  1. Identify the categories in the question.

  2. Scan the passage for keywords or synonyms.

  3. Check each option carefully to avoid traps.

Mini Exercise:
Passage: “Dr. Smith invented the first electric car in 1885, while Dr. Brown developed a solar-powered vehicle in 1890.”
Question: Match the inventors to their inventions.

  • Dr. Smith → Electric car

  • Dr. Brown → Solar-powered vehicle

Chapter 14: Sentence / Summary / Table / Diagram Completion

Purpose: Fill gaps using words from the passage.

Strategy:

  1. Identify keywords in the blank sentence/table.

  2. Scan for synonyms in the passage.

  3. Keep within word limits and correct grammar.

Mini Exercise:
Passage: “Venice’s canals are famous for their gondolas and historic architecture.”
Sentence: Venice is known for its ______ and historic architecture.

  • Answer: gondolas

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